Putting stroke teaching aid apparatus

Abstract

A putting stroke teaching aid apparatus includes a pair of standards that are separated from one another along a target line, a reel supported on one of the standards and a cord supported on the reel and movable between a retracted position wound on the reel and an extended position unwound from the reel. The reel is spring loaded to exert a retracting force on the cord such that slack in the cord is taken up by the reel when the cord is extended and secured in place in a pair of slots formed in the standards so that the cord can be aligned directly over the target line by adjusting the positions of the standards on the putting surface. At least one of the standards can be formed with a central cutout aligned vertically with the cord when the cord is supported on the standards, and a plurality of slots can be provided on each standard so that the cord can be supported parallel to the putting surface at different heights.

I claim: 
     
       1. A putting stroke teaching aid apparatus for use on a putting surface comprising: a first self-supported standard presenting a bottom surface and including at least one slot formed at a predetermined height above the bottom surface, the first standard including a cutout extending upward from the bottom surface, the cutout defining a center point along the width thereof;   a second self-supporting standard presenting a bottom surface and including at least one slot formed at a predetermined height above the bottom surface; and   a cord supported in the at least one slots of the first and second standards so that the cord is fixed at the predetermined height above the bottom surfaces of the standards, the cord being disposed in a vertical plane that includes the center point of the cutout.   
     
     
       2. A putting stroke teaching aid apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the cutout has a width of 4.25 inches. 
     
     
       3. A putting stroke teaching aid apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second standards each include a plurality of slots that are spaced vertically from one another, the slots in the first standard being disposed at the same heights as the slots in the second standard. 
     
     
       4. A putting stroke teaching aid apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second standards present inner sides adapted to face one another, outer sides adapted to face away from one another, and a base that protrudes from the outer side of the standard so that the center of gravity of the standard is closer to the outer side of the standard than to the inner side. 
     
     
       5. A putting stroke teaching aid apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base of each standard is removable. 
     
     
       6. A putting stroke teaching aid apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bases of the first and second standards include counterweights that are screwed into the outer sides of the first and second standards. 
     
     
       7. A putting stroke teaching aid apparatus for use on a putting surface, comprising: first and second standards presenting inner sides adapted to face one another and outer sides adapted to face away from one another, each of the standards including a weighted base protruding from the outer side of the standard so that the center of gravity of the standard is closer to the outer side of the standard than to the inner side, at least one of the standards including a bottom surface and a cutout that extends upward from the bottom surface between the inner and outer sides, the cutout having a width across the inner side of the standard that defines a center point; and   a cord secured between the standards at a predetermined height, the cord being disposed in a vertical plane that includes the center point of the cutout.   
     
     
       8. A putting stroke teaching aid apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cutout has a width of 4.25 inches. 
     
     
       9. A putting stroke teaching aid apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the first and second standards each include a plurality of slots that are spaced vertically from one another, the slots in the first standard being disposed at the same heights as the slots in the second standard so that the cord can be supported parallel to the putting surface at different heights. 
     
     
       10. A putting stroke teaching aid apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base of each standard is removable.